The nation also stands in solidarity with Lankesh as several protests marches are being conducted across all the Karnataka and all major cities in India.

&nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspIndiatimes

New Delhi/Bengaluru: A day after senior journalist and liberal activist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her residence in Bengaluru, the US Embassy has condemned the incident, calling it “an attack on freedom of press”.

“The US Mission in India joins advocates of press freedom in India and world-wide in condemning the murder of respected journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru. We offer our sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Ms Lankesh,” it said.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the country, creating a massive uproar among journalists and politicians. The nation also stands in solidarity with Lankesh as several protests marches are being conducted across all the Karnataka and all major cities in India.

However, it must be noted that the 55-year-old free thinker is not the first one to suffer such a fate; noted author MM Kalburgi was also murdered in a similar fashion but no breakthrough has been made in his case.

In the morning, the Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddahramaiah formed a special investigative team (SIT) to probe the murder of Lankesh. The state government has also been asked by the Union Home Ministry to submit a fresh report in the case.

Senior leaders of all the parties have criticised the incident and there is a fair share of blame game is going on between the ruling party and Congress.

The noted journalist was convicted in a defamation case filed by Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker Pralhad Joshi and party office bearer Umesh Doshi over a report published in 2008. While she was out on bail, the editor of Gauri Lankesh Patrike had hinted that she was receiving constant threats.

Various media organisations led by the Mumbai Press Club and the Bombay Union of Journalists Wednesday

condemned the killing of senior Kannada journo Lankesh and sought a speedy probe in the case.

Apart from the Mumbai Press Club, TV Journalists Association, Photographers Association and Network of Women in Media will join the protests in Mumbai.

Some social activists have also organised a protest meeting in suburban Bandra this evening to condemn the killing.

The Editor's Guild of India has also issued a statement condemning the incident. "Deeply shocked and strongly condemn the murder of Gauri Lankesh, senior journalist and Editor, Lankesh Patrika," it said.

"Her killing is an ominous portent for dissent in democracy& brutal assault on freedom of the press. Demand that Karnataka Govt act with alacrity to bring culprits to justice apart from instituting judicial probe," said The Editor's Guild of India.

Gauri was a journalist-activist, known for her anti-establishment, pro-poor and pro-Dalit stand. Among very few woman editors in Kannada journalism, she was a fierce activist, who openly expressed her pro-Naxal and Leftist views.

Born in 1962, Gauri was the daughter of legendary Kannada journalist and founding editor of Kannada weekly tabloid 'Lankesh Patrike'. Her siblings -- Kavitha and Indrajit Lankesh -- are film and theatre personalities.

US Embassy calls senior journalist Gauri Lankesh’s murder ‘attack on freedom of press’Description:The nation also stands in solidarity with Lankesh as several protests marches are being conducted across all the Karnataka and all major cities in India.Times Now